SHSelfHostIndex

Expressa vs Grav

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
EX Expressa Content Management System for powering database driven websites using VS GR Grav Fast flat-file CMS with no database required
FeatureExpressaGrav
CategoryContent Management SystemsContent Management Systems
LicenseMITMIT
LanguageJavaScriptPHP
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM512 MB256 MB
Deploymentbare-metaldocker, bare-metal, source
GitHub stars★ 452★ 15,620
First released20252014
Replaces—WordPress, Squarespace

Why pick each one

Choose Expressa if…

  • Released under the MIT license
  • Written in JavaScript
  • Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Expressa details

Choose Grav if…

  • Trivial to back up and migrate
  • Quick to set up
Grav details

Frequently asked questions

Is Expressa or Grav better?

Grav is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Expressa if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Expressa and Grav free and open-source?

Yes. Expressa is licensed under MIT and Grav under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Expressa and Grav with Docker?

Expressa: check the project docs for container support. Grav: yes.

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